Platform



' Jan. 8, 1929.

F. J. SHEPARD, JR.` ET Al.

. PLATFORM 4Filed Nov. 17, 1926 A l'nvenTor's'. *l 22 Frederick d. Shepard d1:

Daniel E. Hennesgy Nuaunel Warshczw by kfhwj Vfl/l Patented Jan. 8, 1929*.

UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK J. SHEPARD, Jn., 'or ABURNDALE, NATHANIEL WARSHAW, oF MATTA- c PAN, AND DANIEL E. HENNEISSY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNRS T LEWIS-SHEPARD COMPANY, 0F WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

PLATFORM.

Application led lNovember 17, 1926. Serial No. 148,912.

' This invention relates to improvements in platforms, particularly of the type which are transported from place to place by elevating trucks and the object thereof is to provide a platform of simple construction v and yof great rigidityand in which ioor members of different thicknesses canv be employed with the same side frames.

A further object of with channell bar side frames. I A further object of the invention is to prov ide a platform of the character described with channel bar side 'frames which are fab- 'ricated insuch 4a manner that any desired depth of channel bar may be readily ob-l tained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a platform of the character described having channel bar side frames which embrace the ends of the floor membersand in which spacing and re-enforcing members are introduced between thelower flange of the channels and the under face of the platform -members, bolts preferably being provided to clamp the ianges of the channel bars tightly upon the ioor members and the spacing and re-enforcing members.

By virtue of the present invention the channel bar side members may be of any' desired depth to enclose the ends of the door members. It is well known that the strength of channels increases in proportion to the depth Aof the channel. By providing channels having greater depth .than the thickness of the floor members much greater rigidity is obtained than in constructions in which the channels are of the exact depth necessary to lit the ends of the floor members. Furthermore, the re-enforcing members, or the reenforcing members and spacing members, greatly supplement the rigidity of the frame construction. t A further object of the invention is to provide a platform of the character described in which the parts can be readily assembled' and brokenpa'rts easily replaced.

Otherobjects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out'inthe claims.

In the drawings:

the invention is to proA 10vide a platform of the character described Fig. 1 is a view, partially in side elevation, cfa preferred embodiment of the invention, portions being. brokenl away and shown in section to illustrate the relationof the flanges of the channel bar, the oor'memgers and the spacing' and 1re-forcing mem- F ig. 2 is an end view ofthe platform illustrated in Fig. l; Fig. 3 isa detail sectional view showing an integral rolled channel bar of usual construction embracing the end of the floor members with a single spacing and re-enforcing member between the lower face of the floor member and the lower flange of `the channel and also illustrating the manner', in which the same are clamped' together and to a leg of the platform;

Fg. 4 is a similar detail sectional view showing a spring washer and metal seat therefor located in a countersink inthe end of the Hoor member and acting yieldably to press the platformmeniber against lthe spacing member; U

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view showing a re-enforcing member or shim 'located adjacent ythe free edge of the lower flange of' the channel bar and seated at its upper edge in a recess in the ioor member;

Fig. 6 is a similar detail sectignal view showing a construction in which the spacing and re-enforcin'g member comprises an inverted channel b'ar seated upon the lower Hang-e of the channel side bar;

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating a metal reenforcing plate or bar with a spacing colar tlierebeneath surrounding the clamping Fig. 8 is a similar detail view illustrating an angle bar re-enforcing member embracing the lower edge of the ends of the floor members `with a collar intermediate of the lower flange of said angle bar and the lower flange of the channel; f

Fig. 9 is a similar detail sectional View illustrating a different manner of clamping 'the floor members upon the upper flange of upon a bolt which passes through both flanges f of the channel and the leg;

Fig. 10 is a detail view illustrating in cross section the channel bar formed by two angle bars having their vertical flanges overlap- 1 ping and Welded together as illustrated in igs. 1 and2; and,

Fig. 11 is a detail viewshowing a different manner in which the angle bars can be as sembled and welded together to form a channel bar side frame.

The invention as illustrated in the drawings comprises a platform having a fioor,

4ot' considerably greater depth than thc thickness of' the fioor members. Suitablev re-'inforcing members, suc-h as shims, of wood, metal, or othersuitable material, are interposed lbetween one of the flanges of the channel bar,

(preferablythc lower), arid-thc adjacent face of the floor members. Bolts, extending through the flanges of the channel bar, the floor and the interposed re-enf'orcing and Y spacing members, serve to clamp these parts together to form a very rigid construction.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. l and 2, and in detail inFig. 10, the channel bar side members 2 are constructed ofangle bars having their vertical fianges overlapped and secured together by lines or spots of weldingl 3. Electric welding desirably is employed, although autogenous welding may be used.

Byvirtue of this construction channels 4of any desired size'may be fabricated either to fit closely upon the ends of the floor members, or preferably of Aconsiderably greater depth than the thickness of the fioor members in order to increase the rigidity of the construction. Where channel bars of relatively great depth are employed they can be constructed of relatively. thin materiah'particularly when re-en'forced by rigid bars or by shims iitting closely between the under'faces of the fioor members and the lower walls of the channels.

In the construction Vshown in Fig. 1 the reenforcing and spacing members are in the form of shims 4 which are in the form of'oppositely complementary tapered beams or bars which fit closely between the lower flanges ofthe channels and the under faces of the floor members and extend throughout the .length ofthe channels. lThese shims desirably are of wood and when in place may be driven lengthwise from one or both endsuntil the Hoor-is clamped firmly against the lower faces of the upper flanges of the channel bars. Bolts 5, extending through the flanges of the channel bars, the floor and the shims, serve to hold the shims firmly against end- Wise movement, and also provide additional means for clamping the members together as the channel bars will yield to the strain im posed upon the flanges when the nuts upon the boltsare set up. Any'shrinkage which may take place in the floor or in theshims, if made of wood, can be taken up by setting up the nuts on the bolts and a rigid platform'v structure maintained. y

vCertain of the bolts, such7 as those nearest the ends of' the channel bars, may extend through flanges G. and 7 of U-'shaped metallic legs 8 thereby fastening the legs firmly in place against the lower flanges of the channel bars.

vided wit'h bevelled under faces adapted to titl in complementary countersinks in the upper fianges of the channel bars so that the heads will'not project above t-he surface thereof. The floor members may be rabbeted at their ends in such a manner that the upper surfaces o't' the channels will be flush with the surface of the floor.

Various other forms of re-enforcing and spacing devices may be employed. Fig. 3 illustrates in detail4 an embodiment of the in- Ivention in which the side members are ot' usual form of rolled channel bars and in which the spacing member lO'isv a single bar of wood, or other suitable material,extcndingthroughout the length of the channel bar and interposed betwen the lower face of the floor and per flange. Flat Washers 13, resting upon the bottoms of the countersinks, prevent the spring washers from digging into the floor. In this construction, as in that shown in Fig. 3', a single reenforci'ng and spacing member, such as a shim 14 may be interposed between the lower face of the floor, and the lower flange.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 a narrow spacing member or shim 15 is placed between the free edge ot' the-lower flange and the floor. -Vhen such a spacing member is used the floor members desirably are provided with a groove to receive the upper edge of the shim and thereby vprevent its displacement. In lth1s construction the re-enforcing member or shim may be an iron plate or bar of' suitable y thickness, or for relatively light duty a board or plank-may be employed.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 6

the reenforcing member or shim is in the form of a channel bar, the vertical flanges 16 of which are located closely adjacent to or in contact with the web of -the channel bar,

while the web engages the under face' of the floor and the other flange 17 of the channel rests .upon the free edge portion of the lower flange ofthe channel. bar, side member. This construction is particularly adapted for heavy duty platforms.

In Fig. 7 a plurality of r'e-enforcing and spacing members are usedcolnprising a bar or p1ate '18 of' metal, or su1table material,

which engages the under face of the f loo-r.

with collars 19 surrounding the bolts 5 and of a. suitable thickness to fill the space between l the lower face of the bar or plate 18 and the upper face vof the lower an'ge of the channel bar.

In. Fig. 8 the re-enforcing and 'spacing members comprise an agle bar 20 whlch ernbrac'es the lower faces and ends of the floor members and a collar 21 surrounding the bolt filling the space between the, angle bar and the lower flange of the channel bar.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. V9 an angle bar 22 embraces the lower face and edge of the floor members'and is clampedagainst the floor by a nut-23 upon the bolt 5. In this construction the shank of the bolt is threaded a suliicient distance from the end thereof to accommodate the nut 23. An-

the channel bar side members of angle bars in the manner abovedescribed and as illustrated in detail inlEig. 10 for the reason that channels having any desirable depth may bereadily produced of greater depth and lightermaterial than standard rolled channels and st-ill of 'suficient strength for the purpose. While it is usually/,desirable to form thechannels by overlapping the vertical flanges of the angle, bars, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 10, the chafnnels may be formed by placing the angle bars in a sort of nested position, that is to say, with'the vertical flanges extending in the same direction as illustratedl in Fig.

11 and -welding the vertical flanges together by lines orlspotsfof welding 3. Such' a construction may be,l conveniently employed fwherea relatively thin floor is used, such as a metal floor, as the horizontal flanges of the angle bars can then 'be brought morenearly .Y together than would be possible in the' con-l` struction illustrated" in Fig. 1 0. It isto be understood, however, that channel bars formed in this manner are of great strength and that any desirable depth of channel may be formed within reasonable limits of the width of the angle bars used.

.It will` be obvious 4from the above description that platforms formed of channel bars,

whether rolled channelbars or fabricated l' channel'bars, are of exceedingly rigidconstruction because of the width of the channels. By virtue of this construction any desired thickness of floor members can be em- .ployed as may bel required either Vfrom the width ofthe platform or the kind of duty to which the platfrom is to be subjected. The construction is such that any looseness may be readily' taken up by 'tightening up'the bolts 5, thereby enabling the' rigidity of the v platform to befinaintained. Broken or de- `f'ective parts can also be readily replaced. By reason of such adjustment and replacement'the life ofthe platform can be pro longed indefinitely.

It will be obvious that the particular embodimentsof Athe invention disclosed herein are illustrative and not `restrictive and that.

various otherchanges in form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims Having thus describedl the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secure by Letters'Patent, is:

1. A portable platform comprising a floor and side frames each comprising metal channels of greater width than the thickness of the oor embracing opposite ends of said floor, bolts extending through 'the flanges of said channels and saidfloor, and re-enforcmg means located between the floor and the lower l flanges of said channels operable by said bolts I to clamp said flooiairmly against the under faces of the upper flanges of the channels.`y

2. A portable.platform'comprising a floor,

'channel bars embracing opposite ends of said Hoor, of. greater width than the thickness of said floor, a plurality of shims between the floor and the lower. flanges of the respective channel bars and bolts extending through the .flanges of said channel bars, nuts on said bolts operable when set up to clamp the platform and shims tightly between the flanges of the respective channel bars.

3. A portable platform comprising4 a floor,

V4channel bars'embracing, the opposite' edges of said floorwof greater width than the thickness of said floor, oppositely tapered shims superimposed upon the lower flanges of. said C hanv g y nel bars and fitting between the said .lower flanges and 'under face of the platform-and bolts passing through said flanges, floor and shims operabley to clamp the same firmly together. A y

4; A portable platformgicomprising a pl-urality of juxtaposed wodeiiunits, channel bars of greater width than the thickness of said floor units embracing the respective ends of sai-d units, oppositely tapered wooden shims superimposed'upon the lower flanges ofthe respective channel bars and extending through the length [thereof driven in tightly Rtvveztllower flanges of the channel bars and the llower faces lof said floor units, and

bolts extending through registering holes in said flanges, floor units and shims operable to clamp the same firmly together.

5. A portable platform comprising av floor, upper angle bars embracing the upper edges of the sides of said floor,.reinforcing means extending longitudinally of and enga-ging the lower face of the floor adjacent to said edges, lower angle bars having their horizontal flanges engaging the under faces of said reinforcing means and means clamping together said angle bars With the floor and re-4 inforcing membcrsftherebetween.

6. A portable platform comprising a ioor formed of a series of transverse juxtaposed units,- angle bars embracing the upper edges ofthe ends of said units, reinforcing ,members extending longitudinally of and' underlying said angle' bars and the end portions of said floor units,- a metallic member'engaging the under faces of said reinforcing members,

and means clamping together said angle bars and said underlying metallic member with the floor units and the reinforcing members therebetween.

7 A portable lplat-form comprising a floor formed of a. series of transverse juxtaposed units, angle bars embracing the upper edges of the ends of said units` reinforcing members extending longitudinally of and underlying said angle bars and the end portions of Said Hoor' units, a metallic member engaging the under faces of said reinforcing members, legs havil'ig flanges engaging and underlying said metallic member. and boltsextending through said angle bars, floor units` reinforcing m'embers and the fianges'of said legs clamping the same rigidly together.

In testimony whereof. we have signed our names to this specification.

FREDERICK'J. SHEPARD, JR. NATHANIEI; WARSHAW -Ditmar.. E. HENNESSY. 

